Method and apparatus for distributing bulk material such as cement

ABSTRACT

A wheeled vehicle for storing and dispensing pulverized or granular material such as fertilizer, grain, etc., and more particularly cement, especially mortar cement, at a place where the material is to be used, such as, a residence or a construction site and the like, and which dispenses the material in portions of predetermined size or amounts.

0 United States Patent 1 1 3,565,288

[72] inventor Harry Norman Shute [56] References Cited 550 S. 23rd St., Richmond, Ind. 47374 UNITED STATES PATENTS P 1968 2,212,419 8/1940 Harmon 177/120 [221 d 23 2,760,748 8/1956 Ahlburg 177/120 [451 e 1 3,165,237 1/1965 Stevens 222/56 3,195,662 7/1965 Joiner et a1. 177/120 3,326,101 6/1967 Brisbin et a1. 222/55X Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg 54 METIIoD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING Ammekwam, Hdfmann, Fisher & Heinke BULK MATERIAL SUCH AS CEMENT 20 clmms6nrawmg Figs ABSTRACT: A wheeled vehicle for storing and dispensing [52] US. Cl 222/55, pulverized or granular material such as fertilizer, grain, etc., 177/120 and more particularly cement, especially mortar cement, at a [51] Int. Cl B67d 5/08 place where the material is to be used, such as, a residence or [50] Field of Search 222/55, a construction site and the like, and which dispenses the 44,: 42 l, J/ I .56

material in portions of predetermined size or amounts.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING BULK MATERIAL SUCH AS CEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE lNVENTlON 'Cement, and more particularly mortar cement, plaster lime, fertilizer and the like, is commonly of a powder or granular consistency and packaged in heavy paper bags which are delivered to and stored at a construction site or other place of use. The use of bags for this purpose is advantageous since each bag contains a predetermined amount of material. in the case of cement, for example, the workman knows the proportions of other ingredients to be mixed with one bag of cement to make a particular batch of concrete ormortar.

The use of paper baglike packages has severaldisadvantages. la the first place, packaging of the material in bags is relatively expensive and increases the cost of the product to the user. These packages, because of their size and weight must be individually handled and the labor involved in supplying and storing bags at the place of use is extensive. Bags containing material such as cement cannot be exposed to weathering indefinitely without the cement becoming unusable so that onsite storage over any appreciable period of time must be within an enclosure. If a construction site is large, the location of such an enclosure may not be convenient to locations where cement is used.

When the quantity of cement needed for a particular job is greater or less than the amount initially supplied, additional handling is required. Paper bags may be broken relatively easily during handling and storage, often resulting in significant losses of cement and exposure of the remaining cement to the elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novel and improved method of and apparatus for distributing cement to a use site from a remote supply site, wherein bulk cement is delivered to and, if desired, stored, at the place where it is to be used in portable dispensing apparatus from which apparatus the cement is dispensed in portions of predetermined size or quantities. The apparatus preferably includes a self-contained power source and automatic control equipment so that the apparatus can be left unattended at the place of use. Dispensing of the cement in portions of predetermined size is effected on demand and the apparatus is adapted to be easily operated by workers at the job or site. If the job site is large the apparatus can be moved from place to place on the site, as desired, so that the cement is always convenient to the location at which it is or is to be used.

Should the supply of cement in the portable apparatus be depleted, the apparatus is replaced 'on the use site by similar apparatus and the original refilled at a supply location or site quickly and with a minimum amount of labor. When the supply of cement in the apparatus is not depleted on a particular job site the apparatus can be moved to another job site with a minimum amount of labor and time.

A principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved method of and apparatus for the distribution of cement to a use site, such as, a job or construction site.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved method of and apparatus for distributing bulk cement to a use site, such as, a construction site wherein bulk cement is delivered to the use site in portable dispensing apparatus and dispensed on the site as needed in portions of predetermined size or quantities.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of new and improved method of and apparatus for dispensing cvment utilizing portable apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk cement, a relatively small dumping dispensing container, means for introducing bulk cement from the storage container into the dispensing container, and means for governing the amount of cement introduced into the dispensing container upon each dumping of its contents.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of new and improved vehicle for storing and dispensing cement comprising a storage container or compartment for bulk cement, a dispensing container or compartment, a means for feeding or conveying cement from the storage container to the dispensing container, and means responsive to the reception of a predetermined amount of cement in the dispensing container for governing unloading of the dispensing container and which prevents unloading of the dispensing container until a predetermined amount of cement is contained therein.

In a preferred form of the invention the dispensing apparatus is a vehicle of the trailer type having a hopperlike body forming a storage container for bulk cement. The top of the storage container includes an access door which can be tightly closed and locked to prevent exposure of the cement therein to weather as well as to prevent unauthorized removal of cement. The vehicle also includes a dispensing container or batch hopper and a feed means in the form of a conveyor extending between the storage container and a location above the dispensing container. The conveyor is selectably operable for transporting cement from the storage container to a location above the dispensing containerfrom where the material falls into the dispensing container. The'dispensing container is movably supported in the vehicle by means including weight responsive mechanism forming part of a control mechanism which terminates the feed of cement to the dispensing container when a predetermined weight of cement is contained in the dispensing container. The control apparatus also renders the dispensing container capable of being emptied only when the predetermined amount of cement is present therein. The control apparatus prevents further introduction of cement into the dispensing container before it is empty and conditioned for reception of another portion or batch of cement. Dispensing of partial batches is thus avoided. A counter is provided so that the number of batches of cement dispensed is recorded.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following which includes a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of cement dispensing apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus taken approximately along the line 2-2 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken approximately along the line 3-3 of H6. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus taken approximately along the line 55 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the control system of the apparatus.

The invention is particularly applicable to the distribution of cement, especially mortar cement, by a supplier to a construction or other job site and is herein illustrated and described as applied to such use. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the apparatus shown or the distribution of cement.

As representing a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention a trailer-type vehicle T for dispensing bulk cement in measured amounts is illustrated in the drawings. The vehicle T includes a body B in the form of a hopperlike storage container on a supporting frame F mounted on an axle assembly A, a dispensing or batch hopper assembly H and a conveyor C for moving bulk cement from the storage container B to the batch hopper assembly H, and a control system S. The axle assembly A includes dirigible ground engaging wheels W suitable for "over the road" movement as well as movement off the road. The frame F includes longitudinally extending beamlike frame members 12a, 12b,

3 12c and 12d and laterally extending frame members 13a, 13b

and 13c and a hitch structure 14 at the forward end of the frame F. The hitch 14 can be of any construction suited for hitching to a draft vehicle.

generally rectangular opening indicated by the reference numeral 17 at the bottom of the container B. The sidewall or members of the storage container are also attached to the frame F by vertically extending generally triangularly shaped support members 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d at both sides of the vehicle which are secured, as by welding, to the frame F and to the sidewalls of the container B. p

The upper edges of the wall members 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d are attached to the lower edges of vertically extending wall portions 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d, the upper edges of which vertical wall members in turn support a generally rectangular roof 21 having an access opening 22 which is preferably centrally located in the roof 21. A movable closure in the form of an access door 23 is connected to the roof 21 to cover the opening 22. The access door 23 is hinged to the roof 21 at 24 and can be swung upwardly to permit bulk cement to be loaded into the storage container B. The door 23 is provided with a suitable key-controlled lock 25 which prevents unauthorized opening of the access door.

The conveyor C includes a belt of any suitable construction. The belt shown is steel chainlike mesh of a conventional type generally used for conveying particulate matter in farm machinery or the like. The belt 30 is trained about idler guide rolls 31-34 and a driven roll 35. The upper reach 36 of the belt 30 includes a horizontally disposed section 40 just below and extending across the opening 17 in the bottom of the storage container B and cement in the storage container will flow by the action of gravity intothe interstices in the belt 30 as they pass underneath the opening 17. The upper reach of the belt 30 also includes an inclined section 41 extending upwardly from the roller 33 to the driven roller above the batch dispensing assembly H. The upper reach 36 is supported by a platelike backing structure 42 over which the upper reach 36 slides so that the cement carried by the belt 30 is maintained within the links of the belt at the conveyor is operated. The structure 42 has a horizontal section 43 extending between and fixed to the members 12b, 12c and an inclined section 44 forming a partition in the enclosure for the inclined section of the conveyor C.

The driven roll 35 is disposed in a housing structure 45 which projects from or is supported at the rear of the body B.

The roll 35 is fixed to a supporting shaft 47 suitably journaled in the structure 45. The roll 35 is disposed vertically above the batch dispensing container 80 of the batch dispensing assembly H and driven to rotate in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2 so that the upper reach 36 of the belt 30 moves toward the right as viewed in the drawings while the lower reach 48 moves oppositely. The drive roll 35 includes projecting lugs 46 which engage the belt to drive it. Cement which is picked up by the horizontal section of the reach 36 of the belt 30 is moved toward the right as seen in FIG. 2 along a horizontal section 43 of the support 42, underneath the guide roll 33 and upwardly toward thedriven roll 35 along the inclined section 44 of the support 42. As the belt 30 is moved around the driven roller 35 cement carried by the belt 30 is free to fall by gravity into the batch dispensing container 80 of the batch hopper assembly H.

The vertically upper end of the inclined section 44 of the support 41 includes a depending guide flange 49 lying closely adjacent to the periphery of the roll 35 which prevents excessive cement from falling through the reach 36 of the belt before it engages the periphery of the roll 35 and to direct such cement as it falls into the container 80. A similar guide 50 is provided about the roll 35 and belt 30 along a peripheral upper portion of the roll 35 opposite to the guide flange 49. The guide 50 assists in directing cement from the belt 30 to the batch dispensing container 80. From the roll 35 the belt is trained about the rolls 34, 32, 31 and forms the lower reach 48. The mesh of the belt 30 is preferably relatively small so that the quantity of cement falling into the batch hopper at any instant is substantially less than 1 pound.

In the construction shown the lower horizontal section of the conveyor C is located in a chamber defined by the horizontal channellike frame members 121), 12c, a bottom plate 51 extending between the frame members 12b, 12, a plate 54 covering the space between the members 12b, 12c ahead of or in front of the front wall 16a of the storage container B and the inclined section of the conveyor is located in an inclined chamber extending from the right-hand end of the chamber defined by the members 1211, 12c and 51 to the housing structure 45, and which inclined chamber is defined by the rear inclined wall 16c of the storage container B, an inclined member 56 extending from the bottom plate 51 to the housing structure 45 and the platelike sidewall members 57, 58 which extend between the plate 56 and the inclined wall 160 of the container B. The end of the chamber for the horizontal section of the conveyor C, that is, the end adjacent to the forward end of the vehicle 10, is closed by the frame'member 13a.

The housing 45 includes top, side, rear and bottom walls, 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d and 45e, respectively. These walls are preferably formed of suitable sheet metal material and are attached to one another and to the wall 200 and the member 56 as by welding so that the housingstructure 45 is closed except for the bottom wall 45e which is connected between the sidewalls 45b, 45d and is spaced from the rear wall 45c to define a opening 60. The housing structure 45 encloses the batch dispensing assembly H and driven roll 35 and shields the conveyor C against the entrance of moisture and prevents tampering with the batch hopper or container H. The bottom wall 45e is inclined so the dispensed cement can be directed to a predetermined location at which a mortar box or the like is positioned.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the driven roll 35 is driven from a hand crankshaft 61 by a sprocket chain drive 62 (see FIG. 4) which includes a sprocket 63 fixedly connected to the crankshaft 64, a chain 65 of conventional construction trained around the sprocket 63 and a second sprocket 66 rotatably connected to the shaft 47. A clutch 67 is disposed between the sprocket 66 and the drive shaft 47 of the roll 35 for selectively connecting the sprocket 66 to the shaft 47. The clutch 67 is preferably electrically operated and includes an operating solenoid 68 or other suitable electromagnetic device. The clutch 67, shown, is spring-biased to engaged position and when the solenoid is energized the clutch is disengaged. In addition, the clutch 67 is preferable of the oneway type so that the conveyor belt C can only be driven in a direction to load the batch container 80. The drive 62, etc., may be enclosed by a suitable guard 69 (shown in FIG. I) which protects the drive from dust, mud,'.etc.

When the vehicle is not in use the drive 62 for the conveyor C is rendered inoperative by a key-operated lock 70 having a bolt 71 selectively engageable in interdental spaces in a toothed wheel 72 fixed to the shaft 64.

The illustrated batch dispensing assembly H includes the batch dispensing container supported within the housing structure 45 by a gimbal-type support assembly 81. The assembly 81 includes a yokelike support member 82 pivotally connected to the sidewalls 45b, 45d of the housing structure 45 by pivot constructions including pivot pins 83 so that the support member 82 is rotatable with respect to the housing construction about the axis X, see FIG. 4. The bight of the support member 82 is supported by a suitable weighing device, in the present embodiment, an electric load cell 84, fixed to the rear wall 45c of the housing structure 45.

axis Y. The batch dispensing container 80 is pivotably supported in the frame 86 by suitable pivot pins 90 which permit rotation of the container 80 with respect to the frame 86 about the axis 2. Because of the described gimbal construction a given load supported by the load cell 84 produces substantially the same force on the load cell despite positioning of the vehicle on irregular terrain such as that which might be found at a construction site.

The lower side of the batch dispensing container 80 defines an opening 91 which is selectively closed by a dump door 92. The door includes a semicylindrical plate member 93 which is constructed to cover the opening 91 to prevent escape of material from the container and support arms 94 connected to opposite ends of plate 93 and pivot connections 95 at opposite sides of the container 80. The door 92 is movable about the pivots 95 between open and closed positions by a handle 96 which extends from the door through an opening 97 in the rear wall 45c. The door 92 is opened by manually raising the handle 96 and closed by lowering the handle. The door 92 can be locked in its closed position by a solenoid-operated latch or bolt 98 normally spring biased to a position in which the latch extends beyond the opening 91 in the bucket and prevents rotation of the door in the direction to open it. When the solenoid coil 99 is energized the latch 98 is retracted and the door 92 may be opened.

The control system S which governsoperation of the batch hopper H and conveyor C in response to the amount of material in the dispensing container 80 of the batch dispensing assembly H, includes the load cell 84 and circuitry shown schematically in FIG. 6. In the preferred embodiment shown, a battery 100 carried on the vehicle T provides an electrical power supply for the control circuitry. It should be appreciated, however, that other power sources can be used such as a gasoline engine-driven alternator, or the vehicle could be adapted for operation from a source of electric power on the construction site. These last-mentioned power sources can also be employed to provide a source of energy for driving the conveyor C.

OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE The vehicle is filled with a supply of cement at a cement distributing point or site and is trailed to a construction site. When cement is desired the key-controlled lock 70 is operated to free the drive for the conveyor C. The lock 70 has associated with it in addition to the bolt 71 a normally open double-pole single-throw control switch 101, one set of contacts 102 of which are in series circuit and a DC to AC converter I03 and the other set 104 in series circuit with the battery 100 and the operating solenoids 68 and 99 of the conveyor driven clutch and the door lock 98. After the drive for the conveyor C has been unlocked, the crank 61 is operated to move cement from the storage container B to the dispensing container 80 of the batch hopper assembly I-I. As cement is deposited in the batch container the load cell-84 is progressively loaded and when the load in the batch containerreaches a predetermined amount, for example, 70 pounds, the load cell 84 is subjected to a proportional load which provides a signal which renders the control circuitry effective to disengage the conveyor clutch 67 and open the door lock 98'on the door 92.

At this point in the operation, the conveyor C can no longer be operated and hence not materially more than a predetermined batch portion or amount of cement can be deposited in the batch dispensing container. An operator of the equipment is immediately aware of the fact that the batch container is filled since the chain drive is no longer loaded by the conveyor and substantially freewheels when the crank is turned.

With the door lock 98 opened the dump door 92 can be opened by raising the handle 96 and the batch of cement in the dispensing container 80 emptied or dumped through the housing structure 45 into a mortar box or suitable receptacle. The circuitry is effective to prevent deenergization of the clutch and door lock solenoids 68 and 99 until all of the cement in the container has been emptied from the container, hence insuring that a full batch is always dispensed from the dispensing container before the door 92 can be locked closed and the conveyor again operated.

When the container 80 is emptied and the door 92 properly closed, the circuitry operates the door lock 98 to lock the door 92 closed and engages the clutch 67 so that the conveyor can again be operated to load the next batch into the container 80. v

Any suitable control circuitry can be utilized to perform the desired control functions for the vehicle. An example of such a circuit is illustrated in FIG. 6. The load cell 84 is of a commercially available type which includes a differential transformer having a primary winding P and secondary windings S1, S2 which are oriented to produce bucking currents in the secondary circuit when current flows in the primary P. The transformer core is shiftable relative to the primary and secondary windings in accordance with the load supported by the load cell. Thus the position of the core element 110 determines the magnitude of the differential voltage applied across the secondary circuit. As the load on the load cell increases the voltage across the secondary circuit increases proportionately and as the load decreases the voltage across the secondary decreases.

The DC to AC converter 103 produces alternating or pulsating current in the primary P and thus alternating current power is induced in the secondary circuit. In the convention used in this description half-cycles of the secondary current during which the secondary terminal T1 is positive with respect to the secondary terminal T2 are referred to as positive half-cycles and the circuitry connected thereto operates in response to voltages across the terminals T1, T2 during positive half-cycles.

The operating coil 111 of a relay 112 is connected across the terminals T1, T2 of the load cell through a silicon controlled rectifier 113. When the rectifier 113 is rendered conductive the relay 112 is energized through a circuit from the terminal Tl., a conductor 115, anode and cathode electrodes of the rectifier, and a conductor 116 to the terminal T2. The rectifier is poled so that the relay is energized from the power supply only during positive half-cycles, however a capacitor 121 is connected in parallel with the relay coil to maintain the relay pulled in during negative half-cycles in a manner which is well known.

The rectifier is rendered conductive in response to a signal from the load cell 84 indicating that a desired amount of cement is present in the dispensing container and is deenergized in response to a signal from the load cell indicating that the ce ment has been removed from the dispensing container. This operation is employed to insure that a full batch, i.e. 70 pounds, of cement is present in the dispensing container before dumping and that substantially all of the batch has been dropped from the container before the door can be relocked and the conveyor again operated.

Operation of the rectifier is controlled from a triggering circuit including a voltage dividing network comprised of resistors 130, 131 connected across the secondary terminals of the load cell to provide a signal voltage level at a junction I32. The voltage level at the junction 132 controls operation of the triggering circuit. The resistor is a variable resistor so that the circuitry can be appropriately calibrated to insure accuracy.

The triggering circuit additionally includes a diode I33 and a neon tube 134 in series, a capacitor 136 connected to the conductor 116 and to the conductor l37 connecting the diode 133 and the tube 134, and a resistor 140 connected to the conductor 116 and to the conductor 141 connecting the tube 134 to the gate electrodes of the rectifier 113. When the triggering circuit is rendered conductive current pulses are transmitted to the control electrode 135 of the rectifier to render it conductive and energize the relay H2.

dispensing Energization of the relay 112 closes the relay contacts 142 to establish energization circuits through the clutch solenoid 68 and door lock solenoid 99. The energization circuit for the clutch solenoid 68 is completed from the positive terminal of the battery through contacts 104 of the on-off" switch 101, a conductor 143, relay contacts 142, a conductor 144, the solenoid 99, and a conductor 145 to the negative terminal of the battery. The energization circuit for the door lock solenoid 99 is substantially the same as described above since the solenoid 99 is connected in parallel with the solenoid 68.

When the dispensing container is not completely loaded the voltage level across the secondary terminals of the load cell is relatively low and accordingly the signal voltage at the junction 132 is low. In this condition the triggering circuit is not conductive and thus the rectifier is maintained nonconductive to prevent energization of the relay 112. As the load cell 84 is loaded during operation of the conveyor the voltage level at the junction 132 increases proportionally to the load during positive half-cycles. The capacitor 136 is charged during this period from the junction 132 through the diode 133 at the voltage of the terminal T2. When the desired amount of cement is present in the dispensing container the signal voltage at the junction 132, during positive half-cycles of the power supply, is sufficiently positive with respect to the voltage at the control electrode 135 of the rectifier to break down the neon tube 134 and render the neon tube conductive.

When the tube 134 conducts, a pulse is transmitted from the junction 132 through the diode 133, conductor 137, neon tube 134 to the gate electrode 135 of the rectifier 113 which renders the rectifier conductive to energize the relay 112. The neon tube 134 is maintained conductive during negative halfcycles of the power supply by discharging of the capacitor 136 through the tube 134 and resistor The diode 133 prevents discharging of the capacitor through the resistor 131. ln addition to providing a discharge path'for the'capacitor 136, the resistor 140 functions to prevent turning on of the rectifier when undesired in response to circuit transients.

Energization of the relay 112 closes the contacts 142 as described to declutch the conveyor drive and retract the door lock 98. Thus the door is unlocked so that the contents of the dispensing container may be dumped and the conveyor is rendered incapable of moving additional cement to the dispensing or batch container.

A normally closed limit switch 146 is'disposed for engage- ,ment with the door 92 in its closed. position so that as the door is opened, the contacts of the limit-switch close. The contacts of limit switch 145 are connected to the solenoids 68, 99 in parallel with the relay contacts 142 so that when the contacts of the limit switch are closed the conveyor cannot be operated with the door opened, even though the contacts 142 of relay 112 are open.

The vehicle T also includes a counter for registering the amount of cement dispensed. The counter 150 shown is electrically operated by a second set of normally open contacts 151 on relay 112 with which contacts it is connected in series circuit across the battery with the on-off switch 101. The

counter 150 counts the number of times the dispensing con-- tainer is loaded.

Although but a single embodiment of apparatus of the present invention has been herein illustrated and described, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, instead of trailer-type vehicles the dispensing apparatus could be in the form of a container transportable on a truck from which it could be removed at a job site by a crane, or the like, and/or a gravity feed could be used to feed material from the storage container to the dispensing container, etc.

it is the intention to cover hereby all adaptations, modifications and uses of the present invention which come within the scope of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A method of distributing bulk material to a use site in batches of predetermined size including providing a portable apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk material and a dispensing container, moving said apparatus with bulk material in the storage container to a usesite, introducing bulk material into said dispensing container from said storage container, detecting when a predetermined amount of said material is in said dispensing container, preventing further material from being introduced into said dispensing container after said predetermined amount is contained therein, and removing said material from said dispensing container.

2. A method of distributing bulk cement to a use site in batches of predetermined size including providing a portable apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk cement and a dispensing container and a conveyor for transferring bulk cement from the storage container to the dispensing container, moving said apparatus with bulk cement in the storage container to a use site, introducing by the conveyor bulk cement into said dispensing container from said storage container, detecting when a predetermined amount of cement is in said dispensing container, preventing further cement from being introduced into said dispensing container after said predetermined amount is contained therein, and removing the cement from said dispensing container.

3. A method of distributing bulk material from a supply site to a use site in batches of predetermined size including providing a portable apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk material and a dispensing container, filling said storage container with bulk material at the material supply site, moving said apparatus to a use site, transferring mechanically bulk material to said dispensing container from said storage container, locking said dispensing container against removal of material from said dispensing container until a preselected amount of material is contained therein, detecting said predetermined amount of said material in said dispensing container, preventing transfer of further material into said dispensing container after said predetermined amount is contained therein, removing material from said dispensing container, preventing relocking of said dispensing container until said predetermined amount of material is removed therefrom, and preventing further material from being introduced into said dispensing container until said dispensing container is relocked against removal of material therefrom.

4. A method of distributing bulk material from a supply site or location to a use site in batches of predetermined size including providing a movable apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk material, a dispensing container, and a conveyor for conveying bulk material from said storage container to said dispensing container, filling said storage container with bulk material at the material supply site, moving said apparatus to a use site, transferring by said conveyor bulk material from said storage container to said dispensing container until a preselected amount of material is contained therein, preventing further material from being conveyed to said dispensing container after a predetermined amount is contained therein, and removing the material from said dispensing container.

5. A method of distributing bulk material from a supply site to a use site in batches of predetermined size including providing a wheeled vehicle comprising a storage container for bulk material, a dispensing container, and a conveyor for transferring bulk material from said storage container to said dispensing container, filling said storage container with bulk material at the material supply site, moving said vehicle to a use site, transferring by said conveyor bulk material to said dispensing container from said storage container, repeatedly dumping said dispensing container after a batch of material of predetermined size is contained therein, and counting the removals of material from said dispensing container to record the amount of material dispensed.

6. A method of distributing bulk cement to a use site in batches of predetermined size from a bulk cement supply site or location including providing a portable apparatus comprising a bulk cement storage container and a batch dispenser, filling said storage container with bulk cement at said supply location, moving said apparatus to a use site, and dispensing bulk cement from said container by said batch dispenser in batches of predetermined size on saidsite producing concrete.

7. A method of distributing bulk cement to a construction site in batches as required from a bulk cement supply site or location including the steps of providing a portable apparatus comprising a bulk cement storage container and a cement dispensing container, filling said storage container with bulk cement at said supply location, moving said apparatus to a construction site, and dispensing cement in batches of predetermined size on said construction site as required for producing concrete, said dispensing step including introducing bulk cement from said storage container into said dispensing container, and removing cement from said dispensing container after a size bath of cement has been introduced into said dispensing container.

8. A method of distributing bulk cement from a cement supply location or site to a use site in portions of predetermined size including the steps of providing a wheeled vehicle having a bulk cement storage container and a cement dispensing container, filling said storage container at said supply location, moving said vehicle to a use site, and dispensing cement in predetermined batches on said site as required for producing concrete, said dispensing step including the step of introducing cement into said dispensing container, preventing removal of the cement from said dispensing container until a predetermined batch weight of cement is introduced into the container, and preventing introduction of additional cement into said dispensing container until the preceding batch is removed from said dispensing container to insure dispensing of uniform batches of cement.

9. Apparatus for distributing bulk material from a supply site to a use site in batches of predetermined size comprising a movable frame including a bulk material storage container, a dispensing container connected to said frame and operable between a loading condition in which material is loaded therein and a dumping condition in which material is emptied therefrom, first means connected to said frame for feeding material from said storage container to said dispensing container, and load responsive means governing the condition of said dispensing container. J

10. Apparatus for distributing bulk material from a supply site to a use site in batches of predetermined size comprising a movable frame including a movable storage container, a dispensing container connected to said frame and operable between a loading condition in which material is loaded therein and a dumping condition in which material is emptied therefrom, a conveyor connected to said frame for conveying material from said storage container to said dispensing container, and load responsive means governing the condition of said dispensing container, said load responsive control means conditioning said dispensing container for loading and conditioning said dispensing container for dumping in response to the presence of a predetennined amount of material in said dispensing container.

11. Apparatus for distributing bulk material from a supply site to a use site in batches of predetermined size including a movable structure having a storage container, a dispensing container forming a part of said structure and operable between a loading condition in which, material is loaded therein and a dumping condition in which material is emptied therefrom, a conveyor forming a part of said structure for conveying material from said storage container to said dispensing container, and means for movably supporting said dispensing container in said structure and responsive to loads therein for governing the condition of said dispensingcontainer, said load responsive means conditioning said dispensing container for dumping in response to the presence of a predetermined amount of material in said dispensing container.

12. Apparatus for distributing bulk material from a supply site to a use site in batches of predetermined size including a movable structure having a storage container, a dispensing container in said structure, first means selectively conditioning said dispensing container for loading and unloading, a conas required for veyor in said structure for conveying material from said storage container to said dispensing container, second means for selectively rendering said conveyor operative and inoperative, and third means including load responsive control means movable supporting said dispensing container in said structure, said load responsive control means conditioning said dispensing container for loading and rendering said conveyor operable when said dispensing container is empty and material is to be introduced into said dispensing container and said conveyor inoperative and conditioning said dispensing container for unloading in response to the presence of a predetermined amount of material in said dispensing container.

13. Apparatus for distributing bulk material including a framelike chassis, a storage container on said chassis, a dispensing container disposed on said chassis and operable between a closed condition and an open condition in which material is emptied therefrom, a conveyor for conveying material from said storage container to said dispensing container, and load responsive control means governing the operation of said conveyor as a function of the condition of said dispensing container, said load responsive control means including locking means associated with said dispensing container for locking said dispensing container in said closed condition when said material is being introduced into said dispensing container, load responsive means associated with said locking means to operate said locking means to permit said container to be operated to said open condition in response to the presence of a predetermined amount of material in said dispensing container, said load responsive means effective to prevent said dispensing container from being locked in said closed condition until said dispensing container is substantially empty, and means for counting the number of times said dispensing container is emptied to determine the amount of material dispensed.

14. Apparatus for distributing bulk material including a framelike chassis, a storage container on said chassis, a dispensing container disposed on said chassis and operable between a closed condition and an open condition in which material is emptied therefrom, a conveyor for conveying material from said storage container to said dispensing container, and load responsive control means governing the condition of said dispensing container and operation of said conveyor, said load responsive control means including locking structure associated with said conveyor and said dispensing container for rendering said conveyor operative and for locking said dispensing container in said closed condition when said material is being introduced into said dispensing container and for rendering said conveyor inoperative and for unlocking said dispensing container to permit said dispensing container to be operated to said open condition in response to the presence of a predetennined amount of material in said dispensing container, said load responsive means being effective to prevent said dispensing container from being locked in said closed condition unless said dispensing container is substantially empty.

15. A method of distributing bulk cement from a bulk cement supply site to a use site and dispensing the cement at the use site in batches of predetermined size by utilizing a dispensing container and a portable apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk cement and a conveyor, causing said storage container to be supplied with bulk cement at a supply location, causing said portable apparatus with bulk cement in the storage container to be, moved to a use site, utilizing the conveyor forming a part of the portable apparatus to transfer bulk cement from the storage container to the dispensing container, and causing the cement to be removed from said dispensing container when a preselected amount of cement is contained therein.

16. A method of distributing bulk cement from a bulk cement supply site to a use site and dispensing the cement at the use site in batches of predetennined size by utilizing a dispensing container and a wheeled apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk cement and a conveyor for transferring bulk cement from the storage container to said dispensing container, causing said storage container to be supplied with bulk cement at a bulk cement supply site, causing said apparatus with bulk cement in the storage container to be moved to a-use site, utilizing said conveyor to transfer bulk cement from said storage container to said dispensing container, causing cement transferred from said storage container to said dispensing container to be removed from said dispensing container after a preselected amount of cement is contained therein, and repeatedly refilling and removing cement from said dispensing container as desired at the use site.

17. A method of distributing bulk cement from a bulk cement supply site to a use site and dispensing bulk cement at the use site in batches of predetermined size by utilizing a wheeled apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk cement and a dispensing container and aconveyor for transferring bulk cement from the storage container to the dispensing container, causing the storage container to be supplied with bulk cement at the supply site, causing the apparatus with bulk cement in the storage containertobe moved to a use site, causing the conveyor to transfer bulk cement from the storage container to the dispensing container, detecting when a predetermined amount of cementis in the dispensing container, and causing cement transferred from the storage container to the dispensing container to be removed from the dispensing container.

18, A method of distributing bulk cement from a bulk cement supply site to a use site and dispensing the cement at the use site in batches of predetermined size by utilizing a dispensing container, a wheeled apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk cement and a conveyor for transferring bulk cement from the storage container to said dispensing container and a motor for operating the conveyor causing said storage container to be supplied with bulk cement at a bulk cement supply site, causing said apparatus with bulk cement in the storage container to be moved to a use site, utilizing said conveyor to transfer bulk cement from said storage container to said dispensing containen causing cement transferred from said storage container to said dispensing container to be removed from said dispensing container after a preselected amount of cement is contained therein, repeatedly refilling and removing bulk cement from said dispensing container from said storage container as required at the use site, and causing the number of batches of bulk cement dispensed at the use site to be recorded.

19. A method of distributing bulk material from a supply site to a use site and dispensing it in batches of predetermined size at the use site utilizing a portable apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk material, a dispensing container, a conveyor for transferring bulk material from the storage container to the dispensing container, means for locking said dispensing container against removal of material from said dispensing container unless a preselected amount of material is contained therein, filling said storage container with bulk material at the material supply site, moving said apparatus to a use site, causing said conveyor to transfer bulk material from said storage container to said dispensing container, detecting said predetermined amount of said material in said dispensing container, stopping transfer of further material into said dispensing container after said predetermined amount is contained therein, removing material from said dispensing container, relocking said dispensing container, and causing said conveyor to transfer further bulk material from said storage container to said dispensing container.

20. In apparatus for distributing bulk cement from a bulk cement supply site to a use site and dispensing the cement at the use site in batches of predetermined size by utilizing a dispensing container, a wheeled vehicle comprising a storage container for bulk cement, a conveyor forming a part of said vehicle for transferring bulk cement from said storage container to a dispensing container, a motor for operating said conveyor, and means on said apparatus for recording the number of batches of bulk cement dispensed at the use site.

Z233? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No- 88 Dated February 2; 1971 Inventor(s) HARRY NORMAN SHU'IE It is certified that error appears in the above-identified pateni and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 9, line 14, before "size" insert --predetermi1 Column 9, line 14, correct the spelling of the word "bath" to --batch.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of June 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FI.-'ETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SGHUYLER, Attesting Officer Commissioner of Pate: 

2. A method of distributing bulk cement to a use site in batches of predetermined size including providing a portable apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk cement and a dispensing container and a conveyor for transferring bulk cement from the storage container to the dispensing container, moving said apparatus with bulk cement in the storage container to a use site, introducing by the conveyor bulk cement into said dispensing container from said storage container, detecting when a predetermined amount of cement is in said dispensing container, preventing further cement from being introduced into said dispensing container after said predetermined amount is contained therein, and removing the cement from said dispensing container.
 3. A method of distributing bulk material from a supply site to a use site in batches of predetermined size including providing a portable apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk material and a dispensing container, filling said Storage container with bulk material at the material supply site, moving said apparatus to a use site, transferring mechanically bulk material to said dispensing container from said storage container, locking said dispensing container against removal of material from said dispensing container until a preselected amount of material is contained therein, detecting said predetermined amount of said material in said dispensing container, preventing transfer of further material into said dispensing container after said predetermined amount is contained therein, removing material from said dispensing container, preventing relocking of said dispensing container until said predetermined amount of material is removed therefrom, and preventing further material from being introduced into said dispensing container until said dispensing container is relocked against removal of material therefrom.
 4. A method of distributing bulk material from a supply site or location to a use site in batches of predetermined size including providing a movable apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk material, a dispensing container, and a conveyor for conveying bulk material from said storage container to said dispensing container, filling said storage container with bulk material at the material supply site, moving said apparatus to a use site, transferring by said conveyor bulk material from said storage container to said dispensing container until a preselected amount of material is contained therein, preventing further material from being conveyed to said dispensing container after a predetermined amount is contained therein, and removing the material from said dispensing container.
 5. A method of distributing bulk material from a supply site to a use site in batches of predetermined size including providing a wheeled vehicle comprising a storage container for bulk material, a dispensing container, and a conveyor for transferring bulk material from said storage container to said dispensing container, filling said storage container with bulk material at the material supply site, moving said vehicle to a use site, transferring by said conveyor bulk material to said dispensing container from said storage container, repeatedly dumping said dispensing container after a batch of material of predetermined size is contained therein, and counting the removals of material from said dispensing container to record the amount of material dispensed.
 6. A method of distributing bulk cement to a use site in batches of predetermined size from a bulk cement supply site or location including providing a portable apparatus comprising a bulk cement storage container and a batch dispenser, filling said storage container with bulk cement at said supply location, moving said apparatus to a use site, and dispensing bulk cement from said container by said batch dispenser in batches of predetermined size on said site as required for producing concrete.
 7. A method of distributing bulk cement to a construction site in batches as required from a bulk cement supply site or location including the steps of providing a portable apparatus comprising a bulk cement storage container and a cement dispensing container, filling said storage container with bulk cement at said supply location, moving said apparatus to a construction site, and dispensing cement in batches of predetermined size on said construction site as required for producing concrete, said dispensing step including introducing bulk cement from said storage container into said dispensing container, and removing cement from said dispensing container after a size bath of cement has been introduced into said dispensing container.
 8. A method of distributing bulk cement from a cement supply location or site to a use site in portions of predetermined size including the steps of providing a wheeled vehicle having a bulk cement storage container and a cement dispensing container, filling said storage container at said supply location, moving said vehicle To a use site, and dispensing cement in predetermined batches on said site as required for producing concrete, said dispensing step including the step of introducing cement into said dispensing container, preventing removal of the cement from said dispensing container until a predetermined batch weight of cement is introduced into the container, and preventing introduction of additional cement into said dispensing container until the preceding batch is removed from said dispensing container to insure dispensing of uniform batches of cement.
 9. Apparatus for distributing bulk material from a supply site to a use site in batches of predetermined size comprising a movable frame including a bulk material storage container, a dispensing container connected to said frame and operable between a loading condition in which material is loaded therein and a dumping condition in which material is emptied therefrom, first means connected to said frame for feeding material from said storage container to said dispensing container, and load responsive means governing the condition of said dispensing container.
 10. Apparatus for distributing bulk material from a supply site to a use site in batches of predetermined size comprising a movable frame including a movable storage container, a dispensing container connected to said frame and operable between a loading condition in which material is loaded therein and a dumping condition in which material is emptied therefrom, a conveyor connected to said frame for conveying material from said storage container to said dispensing container, and load responsive means governing the condition of said dispensing container, said load responsive control means conditioning said dispensing container for loading and conditioning said dispensing container for dumping in response to the presence of a predetermined amount of material in said dispensing container.
 11. Apparatus for distributing bulk material from a supply site to a use site in batches of predetermined size including a movable structure having a storage container, a dispensing container forming a part of said structure and operable between a loading condition in which material is loaded therein and a dumping condition in which material is emptied therefrom, a conveyor forming a part of said structure for conveying material from said storage container to said dispensing container, and means for movably supporting said dispensing container in said structure and responsive to loads therein for governing the condition of said dispensing container, said load responsive means conditioning said dispensing container for dumping in response to the presence of a predetermined amount of material in said dispensing container.
 12. Apparatus for distributing bulk material from a supply site to a use site in batches of predetermined size including a movable structure having a storage container, a dispensing container in said structure, first means selectively conditioning said dispensing container for loading and unloading, a conveyor in said structure for conveying material from said storage container to said dispensing container, second means for selectively rendering said conveyor operative and inoperative, and third means including load responsive control means movable supporting said dispensing container in said structure, said load responsive control means conditioning said dispensing container for loading and rendering said conveyor operable when said dispensing container is empty and material is to be introduced into said dispensing container and said conveyor inoperative and conditioning said dispensing container for unloading in response to the presence of a predetermined amount of material in said dispensing container.
 13. Apparatus for distributing bulk material including a framelike chassis, a storage container on said chassis, a dispensing container disposed on said chassis and operable between a closed condition and an open condition in which material is emptied therefrom, a conveyOr for conveying material from said storage container to said dispensing container, and load responsive control means governing the operation of said conveyor as a function of the condition of said dispensing container, said load responsive control means including locking means associated with said dispensing container for locking said dispensing container in said closed condition when said material is being introduced into said dispensing container, load responsive means associated with said locking means to operate said locking means to permit said container to be operated to said open condition in response to the presence of a predetermined amount of material in said dispensing container, said load responsive means effective to prevent said dispensing container from being locked in said closed condition until said dispensing container is substantially empty, and means for counting the number of times said dispensing container is emptied to determine the amount of material dispensed.
 14. Apparatus for distributing bulk material including a framelike chassis, a storage container on said chassis, a dispensing container disposed on said chassis and operable between a closed condition and an open condition in which material is emptied therefrom, a conveyor for conveying material from said storage container to said dispensing container, and load responsive control means governing the condition of said dispensing container and operation of said conveyor, said load responsive control means including locking structure associated with said conveyor and said dispensing container for rendering said conveyor operative and for locking said dispensing container in said closed condition when said material is being introduced into said dispensing container and for rendering said conveyor inoperative and for unlocking said dispensing container to permit said dispensing container to be operated to said open condition in response to the presence of a predetermined amount of material in said dispensing container, said load responsive means being effective to prevent said dispensing container from being locked in said closed condition unless said dispensing container is substantially empty.
 15. A method of distributing bulk cement from a bulk cement supply site to a use site and dispensing the cement at the use site in batches of predetermined size by utilizing a dispensing container and a portable apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk cement and a conveyor, causing said storage container to be supplied with bulk cement at a supply location, causing said portable apparatus with bulk cement in the storage container to be moved to a use site, utilizing the conveyor forming a part of the portable apparatus to transfer bulk cement from the storage container to the dispensing container, and causing the cement to be removed from said dispensing container when a preselected amount of cement is contained therein.
 16. A method of distributing bulk cement from a bulk cement supply site to a use site and dispensing the cement at the use site in batches of predetermined size by utilizing a dispensing container and a wheeled apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk cement and a conveyor for transferring bulk cement from the storage container to said dispensing container, causing said storage container to be supplied with bulk cement at a bulk cement supply site, causing said apparatus with bulk cement in the storage container to be moved to a use site, utilizing said conveyor to transfer bulk cement from said storage container to said dispensing container, causing cement transferred from said storage container to said dispensing container to be removed from said dispensing container after a preselected amount of cement is contained therein, and repeatedly refilling and removing cement from said dispensing container as desired at the use site.
 17. A method of distributing bulk cement from a bulk cement supply site to a use site and dispensing bulk cement at the use site in bAtches of predetermined size by utilizing a wheeled apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk cement and a dispensing container and a conveyor for transferring bulk cement from the storage container to the dispensing container, causing the storage container to be supplied with bulk cement at the supply site, causing the apparatus with bulk cement in the storage container to be moved to a use site, causing the conveyor to transfer bulk cement from the storage container to the dispensing container, detecting when a predetermined amount of cement is in the dispensing container, and causing cement transferred from the storage container to the dispensing container to be removed from the dispensing container.
 18. A method of distributing bulk cement from a bulk cement supply site to a use site and dispensing the cement at the use site in batches of predetermined size by utilizing a dispensing container, a wheeled apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk cement and a conveyor for transferring bulk cement from the storage container to said dispensing container and a motor for operating the conveyor causing said storage container to be supplied with bulk cement at a bulk cement supply site, causing said apparatus with bulk cement in the storage container to be moved to a use site, utilizing said conveyor to transfer bulk cement from said storage container to said dispensing container, causing cement transferred from said storage container to said dispensing container to be removed from said dispensing container after a preselected amount of cement is contained therein, repeatedly refilling and removing bulk cement from said dispensing container from said storage container as required at the use site, and causing the number of batches of bulk cement dispensed at the use site to be recorded.
 19. A method of distributing bulk material from a supply site to a use site and dispensing it in batches of predetermined size at the use site utilizing a portable apparatus comprising a storage container for bulk material, a dispensing container, a conveyor for transferring bulk material from the storage container to the dispensing container, means for locking said dispensing container against removal of material from said dispensing container unless a preselected amount of material is contained therein, filling said storage container with bulk material at the material supply site, moving said apparatus to a use site, causing said conveyor to transfer bulk material from said storage container to said dispensing container, detecting said predetermined amount of said material in said dispensing container, stopping transfer of further material into said dispensing container after said predetermined amount is contained therein, removing material from said dispensing container, relocking said dispensing container, and causing said conveyor to transfer further bulk material from said storage container to said dispensing container.
 20. In apparatus for distributing bulk cement from a bulk cement supply site to a use site and dispensing the cement at the use site in batches of predetermined size by utilizing a dispensing container, a wheeled vehicle comprising a storage container for bulk cement, a conveyor forming a part of said vehicle for transferring bulk cement from said storage container to a dispensing container, a motor for operating said conveyor, and means on said apparatus for recording the number of batches of bulk cement dispensed at the use site. 